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- Siemens building 215 light rail vehicles for San Francisco riders, the company's largest ever U.S. light rail order - New light rail vehicles designed for improved reliability and are estimated to last 10 times longer before requiring significant maintenance than the previous light rail vehicles

Siemens hosted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for a behind-the-scenes look at the first of 215 California-built light rail vehicles currently under production at Siemens rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento, CA. These advanced technology S200 high-floor light rail vehicles will soon begin operation in San Francisco, improving mobility for the more than 700,000 passengers who use the city's transportation system.

"We strongly encourage our public to ride our public transportation system, but we have to make it world class, respectable, clean and efficient. And, I think people will be proud we made the right investments," said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. "The operational improvements with these light rail vehicles are significant for all riders with Siemens technology and the fact that manufacturing is back in the state of California with Siemens leadership--I think this is a great story."

"The demand for transit grows as the city booms. The cars we have today are aging and they are high maintenance, so to get new vehicles and to get more of them on to the streets is going to be a huge part of what makes San Francisco successful, said Ed Reiskin, Director of Transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. "Siemens has been a great partner. Clearly, they are one of the best car builders in the world and we are really happy they are right here in California."

The behind-the-scenes tour at Siemens' nearly 1,000 person Sacramento rail plant, which has been in operation for more than 30 years and is powered in part by solar energy, marks an important milestone in the manufacturing process for the 215 light rail vehicles. The new light rail car is especially energy-efficient with a regenerative braking system and LED lighting that uses up to 40 percent less electricity than standard neon lighting. Additional features, based on public input gathered throughout the design process, include a sleek appearance, and new seating configurations. The vehicles are designed to be extremely reliable and are estimated to last 10 times longer before requiring significant maintenance than the previous light rail vehicles.

"We are very excited to have Mayor Lee and representatives from SFMTA here with us in Sacramento to mark this important manufacturing milestone for these light rail vehicles that will bring a more reliable, comfortable and enjoyable riding experience for passengers throughout San Francisco," said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Rolling Stock. "These vehicles are being built in California, for California, and we're proud that the work being done at our nearly 1,000 person facility will help transform the way San Franciscans travel in and around the city."

The first SFMTA light rail vehicle is expected to arrive in San Francisco in December and will enter into final testing and commissioning prior to revenue service.

This press release, photos and additional material are available at http://inr.synapticdigital.com/siemens/SFMuni.

Siemens' Rail, Transit & Mobility Portfolio: Siemens Rolling Stock business unit is part of the Siemens Mobility Division which provides efficient and integrated transportation of people and goods by rail and road – including all products, solutions and services regarding mobility. Siemens designs and manufactures across the entire spectrum of rolling stock including commuter and regional passenger trains, light rail and streetcars, metros, locomotives, passenger coaches and high-speed trainsets. In the U.S., Siemens is providing rail vehicles, locomotives, components and systems to more than 25 agencies in cities such as Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Denver, Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, St. Louis, Atlanta and Charlotte. Cities also rely on Siemens to provide traction-power substations and electricity transmission, as well as signaling and control technology for freight and passenger rail and transit systems. Siemens has transportation manufacturing hubs in: Sacramento, CA; Louisville, KY; Marion, KY; Pittsburgh, PA

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. With approximately 348,000 employees in more than 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $86.2 billion in fiscal 2015. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $22.4 billion, including $5.5 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.